Project Gutenberg 2004-07-01 Public domain in the USA. 185 Hay, John 1838 1905 Hay, John Milton Pike County Ballads and Other Poems Wikipedia page about this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pike_County_Ballads Produced by Les Bowler and David Widger "Pike County Ballads and Other Poems" by John Hay is a collection of poems written in the late 19th century that vividly captures the spirit and culture of rural America, particularly in the Midwest. The work showcases a diverse array of poetic styles, weaving together narratives that celebrate both the rugged lives of its characters and the broader themes of humanity, love, and struggle. Set against the backdrop of American history, the poems reflect a deep connection to the land and its people, drawing upon folk traditions and personal experiences. The opening of the collection introduces readers to a variety of stories and characters, beginning with the tale of Jim Bludso, an engineer on the "Prairie Belle," who heroically sacrifices himself to save others from a burning steamboat. This is followed by the touching story of "Little Breeches," a father’s expression of love and faith when he finds his child miraculously safe after a terrifying loss. Other narratives, like "Banty Tim," highlight themes of loyalty and courage, especially in the context of race and the Civil War, demonstrating Hay's engagement with complex social issues of his time. Through these early poems, Hay paints a vibrant picture of a frontier life filled with rich characters, moral dilemmas, and poignant relationships, setting the tone for the rest of the collection. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Reading ease score: 82.0 (6th grade). Easy to read. en American poetry -- 19th century Ballads, English -- United States PS Text Category: Poetry Category: American Literature 178990 2025-07-03T06:22:55.613918 text/html 176666 2013-02-05T10:10:58 text/html 151969 2025-07-03T06:23:03.415843 application/epub+zip 155023 2025-07-03T06:22:58.705869 application/epub+zip 130623 2025-07-03T06:22:57.512856 application/epub+zip 329578 2025-07-03T06:23:06.035804 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 313735 2025-07-03T06:23:02.620849 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 286549 2022-09-03T10:10:43.432790 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 155150 2025-07-03T06:22:55.226857 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 154815 2012-08-21T16:50:02 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 19015 2025-07-03T06:23:06.157810 application/rdf+xml 15761 2025-07-03T06:22:58.007855 image/jpeg 3797 2025-07-03T06:22:57.757885 image/jpeg 63849 2013-02-05T10:10:58 application/octet-stream application/zip 61732 2012-08-21T16:51:06 application/octet-stream application/zip 147292 2025-07-03T06:22:55.628886 application/octet-stream application/zip Archives containing the RDF files for *all* our books can be downloaded at https://book.klll.cc/wiki/Gutenberg:Feeds#The_Complete_Project_Gutenberg_Catalog en.wikipedia